MartinHafer The story begins in Wyoming back in the time of the old west. Joshua Cabe (Buddy Ebsen) learns that there's a change in the homestead law and he'll lose his land if he doesn't make a new claim. But, the law also says that each family member can make a claim and if he could get his daughters to file as well, he'd be able to keep his land. But there are two huge problems--he's estranged from his daughters and they have their own lives back East AND his neighbor is a slimy jerk with four slimy jerk sons...who all plan on filing a claim on HIS land! In desperation, he quickly takes a trip to St. Louis to recruit some 'daughters' who will agree to move West with him! He can't be picky and ends up with a prostitute (Leslie Ann Warren), a career criminal (Karen Valentine) and a pickpocket (Sandra Dee). Can this weird new family actually work? And, can they stand up against these ruthless neighbors?The film certainly is odd and has some actresses playing against type--particularly Valentine and Dee who both played Gidget! And, it's also odd to see Ebsen in a western! But somehow it all works-- mostly because the movie is fun. It is NOT a comedy...and I think that would have worked poorly. Instead, it's a light drama...and a well written and enjoyable one. For a made for TV film, it's very good and actually manages to deliver a rather touching ending.

jjnxn-1 Pleasant enough 70's TV movie is made much more memorable and entertaining by the quality of the cast. Buddy Ebsen is all folksy charm forsaking the Jed Clampett bit for a somewhat more realistic version of a homesteader with Jack Elam doing the trusty sidekick role that was his staple.It's the actresses playing the daughters who really give this one snap. Sandra Dee, in the last really active year of her career before slipping into a sad almost hermit existence that continued up to her death, is drolly humorous, Lesley Ann Warren sexy and saucy and Karen Valentine her usual spunky self. It's their chemistry and interactions which makes this a fine comic western. One of those wonderful opportunities that TV movies of the period provided to see a group of highly talented stars of different levels of fame gathered together. Extremely successful when aired this led to a sequel that none of the three ladies returned for and is as bland as this is charming.

Wizard-8 Although "The Daughters of Joshua Cabe" is able to stand alone as a single story, it sure looks like it was also made as a pilot for a prospective series. It didn't become a series, though it later inspired two more made for television movies, which is kind of surprising when you consider the mediocre quality of this production. The main idea of the movie is a solid one, the performances are likable, and there aren't any dead spots. But the movie feels both too short and too long, with not enough done with some plot threads and too much done with other plot stuff. Also, the movie frequently has a cheap and tacky feel, even with the scenes taking place in the countryside. And while most of the movie is a light-hearted exercise, it climaxes with some serious gun violence, which really shatters the lightly comic feel. In the end, the movie could have been a lot worse... though at the same time it isn't a movie that should be actively sought out.

Tony Rome In the 1970's Aaron Spelling produced many made for TV western films, some of these films include "The Trackers," "Yuma," and "Wild Women". "The Daughters of Joshua Cabe" seems like a crazy far fetched story, it concerns a man trying to save his land by having his three daughters file a claim. His daughters have moved, and he has not received any word from them in years. His attempt at tracking them down fail, so he enlists the help of a former prisoner, prostitute, and a petty pick pocket thief to pose as his three daughters. The humor in the film works at time, and it is always nice to see familiar character actors scattered throughout the film. Jack Elam abandons his usual villain character to play a sympathetic older man. This film gets a 9/10